The Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) at MBHP is a venture of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

Literally MBHP’s front door, the HCEC offers services to educate and assist tenants, property owners and the public. The HCEC helps renters and owners to make smart choices and solve their own housing problems.

The HCEC offers:

o Drop-in Center: The MBHP lobby has computers, phones, newspapers, and flyers covering a large range of housing topics — all available both to program participants and to the general public. A one-on-one meeting with a knowledgeable HCEC staff member may result in the tenant or homeowner accessing some combination of: information, MBHP short- or long-term program support, and referrals to other organizations for fuel assistance, job training, and a host of other resources.

o Workshops and Events: Housing information workshops for tenants and landlords are provided both by MBHP staff and in partnership with many other organizations.

o Publications: HCEC produces newsletters for tenants (mbhp@home) and for landlords (Owner News). Additionally, a quick-reference card about Housing Supports services is available for social service and housing service providers.

o Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT): Please note - No RAFT funds currently are available.
     When available, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) is housed within the HCEC. It is a state-funded homelessness prevention initiative that provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
     In FY 2009, there were significant changes to how RAFT funds were administered. Foremost, RAFT was not administered as a first-come, first-served program, and there was no RAFT application.
     Instead, the focus of the HCEC is providing families with the programs and services they need to stabilize their housing situation. Over the past several years we have learned that for many families financial assistance alone was not sufficient to stabilize their housing and prevent homelessness.
     For RAFT funding to be used successfully, it often needs to be combined with services and/or case management. For example, a family can be connected with budgeting assistance and help in applying for public benefits and food or energy resources to help them budget their money well and maximize their income. By focusing on providing families with these services, we are hoping to provide them with long-term success.
     We are happy to meet with families and connect them with needed resources and services; we should not be seen as just a financial resource. If families are interested in our workshops, counseling or case management services please call the HCEC directly at (617) 425-6700 with the understanding that you are calling for services and not requesting a RAFT application.
     Please Note: RAFT has been an important homelessness prevention program throughout Massachusetts for several years, and it has been a key tool in retaining housing for thousands of families. However, budgetary deficits resulted in the state’s decision to transfer funding out of RAFT for the 2010 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010) to cover a shortage in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program.
     As a result, no RAFT funds are available for FY 2010. MBHP staff members continue to advocate for RAFT funding, and we could use your help. Log onto http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php, enter your address (including ZIP code), and access contact information for the governor and your state senators and representatives. Contact them and let them know the importance of funding the RAFT program to keep families housed.

The HCEC is free and open to the public.

To speak with a Housing Consumer Education Center Representative, please call (617) 425-6700.